How To Get And Build True Shadow Monarch in Vanguards

TLDR

1. Complete the Player Quest and Returned Dungeon to unlock True Shadow Monarch.
2. Progress through the class skill trees: Monarch, Pugilist, and Assassin.
3. Equip up to three active abilities from the available ability list.
4. Recruit Shadow units through the First Commander Dungeon and Shadow Trials.
5. Prioritize strong weapons and Shadow Army units to enhance your build.

True Shadow Monarch is a powerful evolution of the Sung Jin-Woo unit, added in the second-anniversary update and it comes with a dedicated progression system, a Shadow Army, Class upgrades, and Weapon choices. Unlike a regular unit obtained from a banner, True Shadow Monarch is unlocked through a special progression path. So, if you want to unlock this form and build it effectively, here’s a complete guide on how to get and build True Shadow Monarch in Vanguards.

How to Get True Shadow Monarch in Vanguards

If you want to get the True Shadow Monarch, you need to complete the dedicated Player Quest. It has 100 levels, and you need to complete various Story Quests, defeat Bosses, collect materials, and more to progress through each level.

So, to start the Player Quest, you must have Song Jinwu and Igros on your roster, or else you will not be able to progress through the levels. Once you have the unit on your team, you can start the special dedicated questline and complete its dungeon challenge to reach the evolution requirements. Below, we've provided a step-by-step breakdown that you can follow

Start the Player Quest

Once you enter the lobby and have the Song Jinwu and Igros unit in your roster, you have to accept the “Do you want to be a player?” prompt to begin the Player Quest level progression. You will start at Level 0, and you must complete the quest objectives to advance through the levels.

Reach Player Level 100

After you have started the Player Quest questline, complete the assigned Quests and return to the lobby at Levels 25, 50, 75, and 100. Once you reach any of these milestones, you have to interact with the lobby well and move on to the next quest. If you ignore this interaction, you will stall your progression.

Clear the Returned Dungeon

Once you reach Level 100, you will obtain the Returned Dungeon Key in your inventory. After that, interact with it to enter the Returned Dungeon and clear all 10 waves. So, it’s recommended to have strong damage units on your team, like Holy Deceiver (Dark) and Rogita (Super), for maximum damage.

Complete the Evolution

Once you have cleared the Returned Dungeon, return to the lobby and sell your base Song Jinwu and Igros. A prompt will show up, saying “Delete the Shadow Monarch?” Press Yes, and it will teleport you to a dimension where you have to interact with the huge glowing orb in front of you. After that, a cutscene will play out, and you will be rewarded with the True Shadow Monarch.

NOTE: Do not rush the final confirmation. The evolution permanently consumes the selected base unit, so double-check that you are ready to replace it.

How to Build the True Shadow Monarch in Vanguards?

Unlocking True Shadow Monarch is only the beginning. Its effectiveness depends on its System progression, Shadow Army, Equipment, Class, and Stat Point investment. Below, we’ve provided a step-by-step breakdown of how to build True Shadow Monarch in Vanguards.

Stats & Levels

True Shadow Monarch has its own level progression system, separate from ordinary unit leveling. You can reach up to Level 100 by securing takedowns, which reward you with System EXP and System Gold. Higher levels unlock additional Shadow Army slots as you reach required milestones. Below, we’ve listed all the milestone levels that unlock Shadow slots.

Level	Shadow Slot Unlocked
Level 1	Shadow Slot 1
Level 10	Shadow Slot 2
Level 25	Shadow Slot 3
Level 40	Shadow Slot 4
Level 60	Shadow Slot 5
Level 80	Shadow Slot 6

Moreover, you can also gain stat points by progressing through each level. Each level grants 1 stat point, and you can receive up to 100 stat points. You can then use these stat points to invest in different True Shadow Monarch stats. Below, we’ve listed all the stats that you can invest in.

• Damage
• Range
• Cost
• Shadow Damage
• Shadow Cost

TIP: It's recommended to invest mostly or fully in the Damage stat, as it will increase your unit’s damage potential.

Best Weapons To Choose

Weapons provide a direct way to improve the True Shadow Monarch's combat performance. Unlike other units, choosing the right weapon is crucial, as you can manually control the unit and deal damage. Below, we’ve provided a table that lists all weapon choices for the True Shadow Monarch build.

Weapon	Stat	Cost
Venom Fang	Poisons enemies for 30% of the unit's damage over 8 seconds. Each poison tick stuns for 0.2 seconds, bypassing stun lockout.	Free
Loyalty Killer	Attacks deal 20% more damage.	100 Gold
Bakura's Dagger	+5% damage for each upgrade purchased.	1,000 Gold
Monarch's Daggers	+30% damage, -5% SPA, and +10% range.	3,000 Gold
Dragon's Wrath	Damage bypasses Damage Reduction.	9,000 Gold
Daggers of Destruction	+100% critical rate, and attacks deal 30% more damage.	15,000 Gold

The Daggers of Destruction are the main endgame target. They provide a 100% critical-rate increase and a 30% attack-damage increase, which significantly increases your DPS. However, for early to mid-game progression, you can go for Monarch’s Dagger, as it also provides all-around buffs.

Best Classes & Abilities

True Shadow Monarch has multiple class skill trees, including Monarch, Pugilist, and Assassin. These classes have different approaches to combat, so choose upgrades that complement your playstyle. By unlocking nodes in the skill tree, you can enhance your overall build according to your playstyle. For a build centered on using shadows, prioritize the Monarch tree, as it will significantly enhance the entire Shadow roster. 

You can also equip up to three active abilities at a time through the Abilities menu. Interact with the Song Jinwu and Igros NPC to access the menu and choose from seven abilities. Therefore, selecting the right ability is important if you want your build to perform well. Below, we’ve listed all the abilities that can be equipped.

• Stealth
• Quick Silver
• Dagger Rush
• Dragon's Fear
• Bloodlust
• Mutilation
• Ruler's Authority

Another important progression milestone is the Job Change Quest, which becomes available after reaching Level 25 and achieving A-Rank Hunter status. Head to the Charge Gate, accept the quest, fight through the Throne Room Knights, and defeat Igros the Bloodred to complete the trial. Winning converts your class to Necromancer and adds Igros the Bloodred to your Shadow Army. You also unlock the Shadow Exchange and Monarch's Domain abilities.

Best Shadow Army Roster for True Shadow Monarch

The Shadow Army is a central part of True Shadow Monarch's strength. Shadows can deal additional damage and provide utility, and can be placed as individual units as part of your roster. Below, we’ve listed the best Shadows that should be part of your roster.

Shadow	Main role
Shadow Fang	Main damage and Crowd Control
Shadow Dragon	Burn and damage synergy
Shadow Fishman	Stuns and Crowd Control
Ant King	Heavy damage and scaling
Shadow Healer	Economy
Shadow Commander	Buffs

This lineup aims to deal sustained damage with crowd control and buffs. Shadow Fang and Shadow Dragon are the main damage sources, while Shadow Fishman helps control enemies. Ant King also deals heavy damage, and Shadow Healer supports the economy. However, the exact performance depends on which two passives you choose for each Shadow.

Best Orbs to Choose

Orbs let you specialize individual shadows according to their roles. Below, we’ve listed all the Orbs that are available in the game.

Orb	Effect
Orb of Power	+50% Damage
Orb of Speed	-20% SPA
Orb of Sight	+30% Range
Orb of Cost	-10% upgrade costs
Orb of Retainment	Retains upgrades after a shadow is replaced

For damage dealers, prioritize Orb of Power. Use Orb of Speed on those whose effects benefit from frequent attacks, and Orb of Cost on shadows that support your economy. Likewise, Orb of Sight is a niche choice, as it increases a unit’s range and allows it to attack enemies from farther away.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For more on Anime Vanguards, check out Anime Vanguards Elemental Towers Guide or Anime Vanguards Tier List on Pro Game Guides!